I wish I could bottle up a bit of that.
The afternoon passes quickly, and my anxiety spikes as the hours tick away. I should be getting ready to go to the club soon…
Oh crap, I think to myself and grab my phone to text Marsha. I completely forgot to cancel with her.
Hey girl. Sorry I didn’t text earlier. I need to cancel for tonight.
Thankfully she replies with a quick ‘okay.’
I put my phone down, determined to ignore it for the rest of the night.
After dinner, it’s time for Henry’s bath, which is always an ordeal. He splashes and plays until the water is cold.
“Time to get out, buddy.”
He pouts but raises his arms for me to pick him up. Once his pajamas are on and he picks two books, we settle down on his bed to read. I don’t even make it halfway through the second book before he’s fast asleep. I carefully slide out from under him and kiss his forehead. With an exhausted sigh, I close his door.
Even though it’s early, I get into my pajamas and wash my face. I crawl into bed and will myself to fall asleep, but sleep doesn’t come. I lie awake, staring at the ceiling. I must drift off at some point because I’m jerked awake by my phone ringing. One look at the clock and I know who it is.
I close my eyes and ignore the ringing. As soon as the ringing stops, the texts start. It’s last night all over again, except this is worse because I could be in his arms right now, but I’m not. I do my best to ignore my phone. I know that whatever he’s saying is just going to hurt. After ghosting him, maybe I deserve the pain.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my phone and look at the texts. They all make me feel like crap, but it’s the last one that has my heart clenching in my chest and tears running down my cheeks.
Just let me know you’re okay.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Axel
It’s beenthree days since Addy stopped taking my calls, and I’m going insane. Which is what has led me to this moment where my boss is threatening to punch me.
“Stubborn, asshole,” Aiden shouts as he pushes me back out of his office. “I can’t give you club members’ personal information.”
“She’s not just some club member,” I growl, pushing against him.
“I give fuckall about your personal life. As far as I’m concerned, she’s just a club member who deserves her fucking privacy. Now get back to work before I fire your ass.”
My shoulders slump, and I give up the fight. I don’t even know what the fuck I’m doing anymore.
“Look, man Aiden says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I know you like this girl, but she obviously isn’t feeling the same thing.”
I shrug his hand off my shoulder and pace away, dragging my hand through my hair. “That’s the thing, we were on the same page, and then bam, nothing. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Aiden shakes his head and gives me a pitying look. “You need to let it go. If she wants more from you, she’ll come to you.”
With him being the gatekeeper of her address and her ignoring my calls, there isn’t much else I can do. I nod at him and head back to the bar to sling drinks. My shift can’t get over fast enough.
* * *
The days passby in a blur. I wake up a week after Addy stopped talking to me and find my fridge is empty and I’m out of coffee. Definitely not a good thing with my mood being so shitty already. Caffeine is the only thing keeping me going.
I had planned on spending my days off locked up in my house, hiding from the world because I’m terrible company right now Guess I’m going to the grocery store instead.
I’m trying to decide what kind of cereal I want when a small person runs right into my legs, then falls on his butt at my feet.
“Henry, slow down,” an exasperated voice calls from around the corner of the aisle.
The little boy looks up at me with wide eyes. I’m about to help him up when she turns the corner pushing a cart full of groceries.